Halloween

Cade was an elephant for Halloween. Isn't he the cutest elephant you have ever seen?

Cade and I were able to go "trunk or treating" with my family since we were in Texas on Halloween. He was a little unsure at first and would barley whisper "trick or treat". Then he would sign the word "car" because he knew we would then go to the next car. He loved watching candy go into his bag.

He started to get a little overwhelmed with so many people and kids running around him.

I unwrapped one of his suckers and that changed his whole outlook. He was so excited. He started running around with his big elephant ears flopping around. When he finally got tired he sat by our car and ate his sucker.

Success and a question

On Saturday I successfully left Cade with a paid babysitter for a good portion of the day-lunch, a nap and all. This may not seem like a big achievement, but this has seriously given me stress. Living away from family takes away automatic babysitters and people I trust. There are plenty of people here that I trust but then I just worry. Maybe it is a first time parent thing but I have had a problem leaving him with a paid babysitter. I have left him at neighbors' houses where they have kids and he is very familiar there because I have been there with him several times. But yesterday Cole and I had to be two different places for a good portion of the day. I had one of the Young Women from our ward, who Cade had never met, to come watch him. I was a mess. I was so nervous. I almost cancelled. But I figured just as Cade needs to get used to babysitters, I need to get used to the idea of leaving Cade in the care of a babysitter. And everything went fine! Cade was great. He took his nap great. And everybody was happy and calm when we came home. This was very exciting for me. I feel very liberated. I can successfully leave him with a babysitter and nothing catastrophic will happen. 

So here is my question to all my blogging buddies- What do you pay your babysitters? I don't want to be a cheapskate because I want it to be worth their time. I want them to want to come back. But also when you calculate a date and babysitting money things can get pricey. What do you think is reasonable?

 

Come on-who wouldn't jump at the chance to watch this little guy for free! ;)

Peas

We had peas for dinner tonight. Later after dinner Cade wanted a snack. We got him a small container of peas to munch on. I checked out a new toy for him at a lending library-a peg board with colorful pegs you put in the holes. He has really enjoyed playing with it. He was content playing with it by himself and munching on peas. We looked over and he had found an alternative activity for his peas.  Shoving them into his peg board. He was so proud of himself for figuring it out. We thought it was hilarious. And we just let him continue shoving.

 

Book Recommendations

I just finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I surprisingly loved it. It is in letter format which I thought I would hate. I thought wrong. It was very witty, endearing, and historic. It was not one of those books where you just can't put it down but I did throughly enjoy my time reading it. I actually kind of liked that it was easy to put down when I needing to be getting things down. I didn't feel trapped or bound like I couldn't function until I knew what happened next. Very good and very informative. It makes me want to go visit the island of Guernsey. Want to come?  

I am looking forward to The Circus Ship coming in. I ordered it today. It just came out this month. It is by Chris Van Dusen. I love his picture books. This will be his fourth one. I love looking at the illustrations. The stories are cute and the rhyming clever. The best part: I don't get bored reading them to Cade over and over. (which he asks for often since he too loves this books.)

Austin's Blessing

Last week we went up to Utah for Shanna's baby blessing. So fun! We seriously need like 2 weeks whenever we go to Utah because there are just so many family and friends there. But we had so much fun spending time with family. We miss living near them. Quick rundown of events-lots of holding baby Austin, watched BYU football game (fantastic victory), blessing and wonderful luncheon, more of holding baby Austin, Labor day events, more holding Austin, sewing time with Shan, an Allen side cousins party, family Ratcliffe time, and did I mentioned that we held Austin? Well we did and he is adorable. 

On Labor Day we went up American Fork canyon to spend time with my dad's side of the family. It was nice to be in and around the mountains again. It was the ideal place for Cade: rocks, dirt, and water. He loved it. 

Last Thursday Cole's Great Grandma turned 100. And she is still going strong. Wow. I was so pumped to take a 5 generation picture. 

Left to Right-Cole's Great Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Cole, Cade

We loved the time we got to spend with so much family. We wish we could have stayed longer. Thanks for all the love and hospitality we received! 

The Happy Dance

Some things in life are just worth dancing about. Cade seems to find them frequently. Here is what we call Cade's "happy dance."

Summer+Yummy recipe

I can't believe summer has come and gone. Here is a little of the end of our summer. Sorry if it drags on. Some of it I just wanted documented-just hold out for the recipe. 

Swimming at Mimi and Papa's

We found a family fun lake in Topeka that Cade and I played at for a day with some neighbors.

This was tonight-playing outside in the stretch of grass outside our apartment building. We come here a lot just to get out of the house. And yes-Cade is in a church shirt and basketball shorts. At least he is dressed.

Cade is really into his sunglasses right now.

Cade's first hair cut at a salon. He was a little unsure. During Cole's haircut the lady let Cade spray water with the spray bottle onto Cole's hair. Cade loved it. We won't even go into my haircut...it was horrible.

I ran a small local 5K on Saturday. I made my personal goal which I was very pumped about. 

Cade loves watermelon. 

Here are a few projects I was able to get done over the summer. 

Cade knows all his letters!! I thought it would be good to have them posted in his room. This is right by his crib so he can study them when he wakes up ;) I spray painted an old frame from the thrift store, cut letters from my cricut, mod podged them on and ta da!

 

I sewed me an apron. I really needed one and it was a good sewing project. It is reversible so I can keep one side clean and one all stained.

Something I have been meaning to do since he was born. Shanna did hers and that gave me a good idea how to do it. Painted wooden rectangles blocks, covered them in scrapbooking paper, painted wooden letters, glued them on, tied ribbon around a nail and glued the ribbon ends to the backs. Cole nailed them in. 

Cole is back at school juggling a full load of classes and several clients to meet with weekly. Not to mention spending time with family. He stays busy but is doing really well. Cade is at a really fun stage right now. Soaking everything up and trying his hardest to communicate. He signs some, he talks some and sometimes a little of both to get a message across. He thinks kissing owies (however you spell it) really makes them feel better. He can point to and say all the letters except Q. Some of his favorite things to do right now is to read books, walk along the side walk and watch cars and trucks (and play with toy cars and trucks), and to jump and crawl on the couches and luv sac. He is such a sweet little boy and he never fails to crack us up everyday. 

This is what we had for dinner tonight. So yummy-thought I would share. (and it turned out looking like the picture-I love it when that happens!!)